DAVAO CITY – Daily rallies have persisted across Mindanao since March 11, the day former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested, with thousands of supporters urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to send him back to the Philippines.
From Davao City to Sulu, demonstrators have been gathering every night, holding candle-lighting ceremonies and waving banners in a bid to pressure the ICC for Duterte’s release. Despite knowing that he is currently detained at the Scheveningen Detention Facility in The Hague, Netherlands, his supporters remain steadfast in their demand to bring him home.
Mammoth crowd are also shown in the Visayas rally calling his his return.
Wearing black t-shirts, hanging red ribbons, handwritten messages on bond paper, and even recycled materials, protesters have creatively displayed their call for Duterte’s return.
“I want him home. He is not a criminal, he is our protector,” said Analyn, 52, a mother of four from North Cotabato, reflecting the sentiments of many in the crowd.
Local officials and Duterte allies have joined the movement in several cities, amplifying their demand through motorcades, prayer vigils, and social media campaigns. Some groups have even launched signature drives urging the Philippine government to intervene diplomatically.
Despite the ICC’s legal proceedings, Duterte’s supporters argue that his actions as president were in defense of the nation, particularly in his war on drugs and counter-insurgency efforts. They insist that the charges against him are politically motivated and unjust.
As the case progresses, the movement calling for Duterte’s return shows no signs of slowing down. Rallies are expected to continue across Mindanao in the coming weeks.
Edith Z Caduaya studied Bachelor of Science in Development Communication at the University of Southern Mindanao.
The chairperson of Mindanao Independent Press Council (MIPC) Inc.
